Revetment mat



March 1, 1932. M. M. UPSON REVETMENT MAT Filed Spt. 2a. 1929 s Sheets-Sheet 1 March 1, 1932. M. M. UPSON REVETMENT MAT Filed Sept. 26'. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M. M. UPSON REVETMENT MAT March 1, 1932.

Filed Sept. 26, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 t H I O IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Patented Mar. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAXWELL M. UPSOILOF ENGLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO BAYMO NI; CONCRETE PILE COMPANY, 01? NEW YORK. N." Y.) A

CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY RE ETMENT MAT Application filed September 26, 1929. Serial No. 395,211.

This invention pertains to revetment mats of the kind now being used in; the control of the Mississippi River. i

Such 'revetme'nts are composed of small concrete slabs tied together by Wires or cables to form large articulated concrete mats. with which the river bank is paved to a point Well outin the stream. 4

One objection tothis type of revetment is the fact that duringperiods of low water, when the mat is exposedto air and dampness, the wires or cables rust away between the slabs and the slabs are thus liable to be pushed out of position by contact of barges, logs or other floating material.

The principal object of the present invention is to so protect the wires between slabs that they will never be exposed to the elements and will therefore not, rust away.

This is accomplished by. enclosing the cables between slabs with elastic -material which maintains intimate contact withthe concrete of the slabs so as to exclude air or dampness from the cables. The material is also flexible so as to permit free articulation of the mat structure. vPreferably, the sealing material is a tar or asphalt preparation poured intomolds of paper, as will be described in detail.

Further and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the specification and claims, and from the drawings which show by way of illustration what is considered the preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows the method of discharging the articulated mat from a barge onto the river bank.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-section showin position to receive t Fig. 7 shows a modified form of the inven- Fig. 8 isacross-section on line 88 of Fig. 7. p

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of several interconnected slabs of the matto which the present invention has been applied.

To form the articulated mat, slab molds are interconnectedin rows lengthwise and crosswise. Cables or wires are stretched lengthwise and crosswise through the empty molds and become embedded in the concrete when it is subsequently poured into the molds. Here'tofore the cables between the molds were uncovered and unprotected. Ac-

- cording to the present inventiomthese unexposed portions of cable are covered before the concrete is poured, the cable covering being of suchnature as to form close contact with the concrete of the slabswhen they are poured.

After the slabs are set, the mat is discharged onto the river bank over the end or side of a barge. Thisoperation is shown in Fig. 1, in which slabs 20 have been cast in molds 22. 'Cables 24 and 26 pass through the slabs and tie them together in articulated re lationship in both directions. These cables, between slabs 20, are enclosed in protecting casings 30.]

After the molds pass over the curved discharge track 32 the slabs are deposited on the river bed 34 and the empty molds pass back to the left to be refilled. y

i As shown in Figs. 2 to 8, mo1ds 22 are provided with overlapping trough-like'projections 36 and 38. For the purposes of this indetails of the molds in which the slabs are iventiolnIplace in thesetroughs apaper mold whilethe sealing material is being poured into them. In order that they may readilybe placed in position-their lower portions are plit as indicated by line 44. (Fig. 5 Walls 40 do not; fit the cable closely but are cut away to provide clearance 46 around the cable for a purpose which will appear.

Although molds have been mentioned as being made of paper, they'may be of any material having suitable characteristics.

With molds 40 in position as in Fig. 2, melted tar, asphalt, or other suitable material is poured into the mold to form when set a flexible elastic casing 30 about the por-' tion of the cable within the mold. Some of the molten material flows into and through the ring-like space 46 to form a protruding collar 48 about the cable and extending slightly into the spaces to be filled with concrete in molds 22. After casings 30 have set, the walls 40 may be torn off or cut away in order to provide large contact surfaces between casing 30 and concrete slab 20, but, if desired, the walls may be left in position, as in Fig. 45, when concreteis poured in molds 22 to form slabs 20. If molds 40 are left intact, collars 48 serve to make intimate contact with the concrete so as to exclude the surrounding element from the cable in case the mold material should disintegrate. The above described arrangement, shown in finished form in Figs. 4 and 9, is effective to protect the cable throughout its length, the concrete protecting the portions. contained within'the slabs and the elastic casing 30 protecting the portions between the slabs even when flexing thereof occurs.

Figs. 7 and 8 show an optional arrangement in which casing 30 is replaced by a sleeve 50 placed around the cable in position to have its ends embedded in slabs 20 when they are poured (Fig. 7). Sleeve 50 is of suitable flexible, elastic, adhesive material such as tar I or asphalt. For'convenience of application it may be in sheet form, wrapped around the cable as indicated in Fig. 8.

If the surface of the material of the sleeve is not sufficiently adhesive to insure a tight joint where overlapped, the sleeve may be coated with an adhesive before wrapping,

or clamps may be applied to the sleeve if desired.

It is tobe understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment herein described and illustrated but may be used in other ways without departure from its spirit as defined in the appended claims.

I claim 1. An articulated mat for revetments comprising in combination, a plurality of spaced concrete slabs, flexible members interconnecting said slabs and holding the'same in spaced relation to permit movement relative to each contact withthe surrounding element.

4. The invention set forth in claim 3 in \vhiclisaid protecting means comprises a tarlike sleeve surrounding said cable and in contact with the adjacent slabs.

5. The invention set forth-in claim 3-in which said protecting means comprises a sheet of weather-proof material wrapped around said cable and having its ends em bedded in the adjacent slabs.

6. In an articulated mat for revetments comprising a plurality of spaced concrete slabs, flexible members interconnecting said slabs to hold the same in spaced relation and permit relative movement therebetween, and elastic casings enclosing said members between said slabs and projecting into said slabs.

7. An articulated mat for revetments comprising, in combination, a plurality of spaced concrete slabs, flexible members passing through said slabs to reinforce the same, said flexible members interconnecting said slabs to hold the same in spaced relation and permit relative movement therebetwen and elastic casings partially embedded in the slabs and enclosing said members between the slabs to protect said members from the surrounding elements. 7 I

In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my signature.

MAXWELL M. UPSON.

other, and casings enclosingsaid members,

for the purpose set forth. v

2. An articulated mat for revetments comprising in combination, a plurality of "spaced concrete slabs, flexible members interconnecting said slabs and holding the same in spaced relation to permit movementrelative 

